Methods and apparatus for automatically transfering and registering fabric workpieces and for combining them

ABSTRACT

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRING REGISTERING AND COMBINING FABRIC WORKPIECES, INCLUDING MEANS FOR MOVING THE FABRIC WORKPIECE OVER A SUPPORTING SURFACE UPON WHICH THEY CAN BE SLID, MEANS FOR IMPELLING ONE OR MORE OF THEIR EDGES OUTWARDLY AGAINST ONE OR MORE STOP SURFACES IN KNOWN POSITIONS TO REGISTER THE WORKPIECES WITH RESPECT TO THE POSITIONS OF THE STOP SURFACES, AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE KNOWN ORIENTATION AND RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO THE OTHER WORKPIECES DURING THE SUBSEQUENT TRANSFER OF THE WORKPIECES FOLLOWING REGISTRATION AND DURING THE COMBINING THEREOF.

May 23, 1972 G. F. HAWLEY ET AL 3,564,557

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRING AND REGISTERINGFABRIC WORKPIECES AND FOR COMBINING THEM Original Filed July 30, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 1 inimum! i;

I! Q Q H j INVENTURS J BY GEORGEHf-JiAWLEY M MAW May 23, 1972 G. F.HAWLEY ET AL 3,664,657

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRING AND REGISTERINGFABRIC WORKPIECES AND FOR COMBINING THEM Original Filed July 30, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR GEORGE F- HAWLEY JOHN H. BUETTNER RNE'YS May 23,1972 G. F. HAWLEY ET METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLYTRANSFERRING AND REGISTERING FABRIC WORKPIECES AND FOR COMBINING THEM 9Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 30, 1965 INVENTORS GEORGE F. H AWLEYJOHN H BUETTNER NEYS y 1972 G. F. HAWLEY ETAL METHODS AND APPARATUS FORAUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRING AND REGISTERING FABRIC WORKPIECES AND FORCOMBINING THEM 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed July 30, 1965 INVENTORSGEORGE F. HAWLEY JOHN H.BUETTNER Y wgljvyllzazggwuh ATT R Y May 23, 1972G. F. HAWLEY ETAL 3,664,657

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRING AND REGISTERINGFABRIC WORKPIECES AND FOR COMBINING THEM Original Filed July 30, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 5 [5 I52 5 22A 20A l in L .4\m 24A v24 wj INVENTOm GEORGEFHAWLEY JOHN H-BUETTNER May 23, 1972 G. F. HAWLEY ET AL 3,664,657

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRING AND REGISTERINGFABRIC WORKPIECES AND FOR COMBINING THEM Original'Filed July 30, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 6 A FIG. I2 F INVENTORS GEORGE F. HAWLEY JOHN H-BUETTNERORNEYS May 23, 1972 G. F. HAWLEY ET AL 3,664,657

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRING AND REGISTERINGFABRIC WORKPIECES AND FOR COMBINING THEM Original Filed July 30, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS EORGE F. HAWLEY OHN H. BUETTNEF WM, yw A ORNEYSMay 23, 1972 A G. F. HAWLEY ET AL 3,664,

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRING AND REGISTERINGFABRIC WORKPIECES AND FOR COMBINING THEM Original Filed July 30. L965 9Sheets-Sheet 8 I l8 I P I I041 36 INV TORS GEORGE -HAWLEY JOHNH-BUETTNER May 23, 1972 METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLYTRANSFERRING AND REGISTERING FABRIC WORKPIECES AND FOR COMBINING THEM G.F. HAWLEY ET Original Filed July 30, 1.965

V.A.C.

9 Sheets-Sheet 9 TCH & BRAKE TRANSFER CLAMP AIR VALVE SOL'S.

REGISTRATION START /\/DOWN FIG-2O 'CLUTCH BRAKE TRANSFER MOTOR r BEATERMOTOR INVENTORS GEORGE F-HAWLEY JOHN H- BUETTNER United States PatentOfice 3,664,657 Patented May 23, 1972 METHODS AND APPARATUS FORAUTOMATI- CALLY TRANSFERING AND REGISTERING FABRIC WORKPIECES AND FORCOMBINING THEM George F. Hawley, Bogota, N.J., and John H. Buettner,

Williston, Vt., assignors to Ivanhoe Research Corporation, New York,N.Y.

Original application July 30, 1965, Ser. No. 475,986, now Patent No.3,544,098, dated Dec. 1, 1970. Divided and this application Dec. 9,1969, Ser. No. 879,975

Int. Cl. B65h 39/02 US. Cl. 27058 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis is a divisional application of pending application 475,986, filedJuly 30, 1965, now Pat. No. 3,544,098.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for transferringand registering fabric workpieces and for combining them, and moreparticularly to such methods and apparatus for accomplishing thetransfer and registration of fabric workpieces and for combining themcompletely automatically in readiness for fastening together.

These transfer and registration and combining methods and apparatus areintended for use in automatic production systems for manufacturingfabric goods such as clothing, headgear, footgear and the like,including subassemblies of such goods. At the present time the garmentindustry is characterized by substantial amounts of tedious,repetitions, monotonous hand labor in producing finished goods. Thepresent invention is intended for use in this field to enable machineryto be used to relieve human beings of the need to perform much of thisdrudgery.

This invention is visualized by us as providing fundamental and widelyapplicable methods and apparatus by the use of which the apparelindustry will be enabled to set up many different types and arrangementsof fully and partially automatic production lines. The transfer andregistration methods and apparatus embodying this invention are veryflexible in application and are adapted for handling a wide variety oftypes and sizes of fabric goods. This invention is visualized by us asproviding fundamental building blocks for setting up fully and partiallyautomatic production lines in the apparel industry, being used betweenor in connection with successive stages or stations of an automaticmanufacturing line for transferring separate fabric pieces orsemi-finished workpieces from one station or stage to the nextsuccessive station or stage of the production line, for bringing theminto registration and for combining them together in proper accuraterelationships for subsequent fastenmg.

When utilized in production systems for manufacturing fabric goods suchas clothing, headgear, footgear and the like, the present inventionenables each individual fabric workpiece to be brought automaticallyinto a very accurately known relationship with respect to otherworkpieces and with respect to various operating parts of the equipment,for example, such as folding means, fastening means including needles,etc. so that these workpieces can be properly assembled automatically inreadiness to be secured together to provide the desired shape and sizein the end product. For example, the assembled multiple workpieces offabric are in readiness subsequently to be fastened together as bysewing to complete the product.

In our endeavors to handle and assemble pieces of fabric automatically,we have found that the problems of transferring and registering thefabric workpieces have been very difficult to solve. The characteristicsof the typical piece of cloth such as those from which many types ofgarments and head and foot coverings are made are limpness, flexibilityincluding flexibility in shear, i.e. it will distort readily in the biasdirection, and generally irregular outlines. In addition, the cut edgeof a piece of cloth is markedly textured and includes minute projectingfibers which produce a strong frictional grip upon other pieces offabric when they are in contact one with another, especially when thefibers of cut edges are in contact one with another.

In our experience these characteristics of fabric workpieces set themapart uniquely and entirely from the types of sheet articles which arenow quite commonly registered by machinery during their handling inother fields. For example, sheets of paper are now usually automaticallyregistered during their feeding into printing presses or into businessmachines. As other examples, it is noted that metal sheets and plasticsheets are often registered when being fed into stamping, pressing orcutting machinery. We have found that the methods and apparatus of thesepaper, plastic, and metal handling arts are not applicable in thepresent field of automatically transferring and registering fabricworkpieces and of combining them. The reader may personally haveregistered two or more paper sheets one with another by gently joggingtheir edges against the top of a desk or table. The reader is asked tovisualize the problem of similarly trying to register two or more piecesof irregularly shaped fabric, such as panels of a mans cotton shirt,except by picking one up, turning it and carefully laying it down uponthe other with their corresponding edges in registration.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these problems byproviding transfer and registration methods and apparatus and combiningmethods and apparatus which are widely applicable in the garmentindustry and similar fabric goods producing industries for transferringand registering fabric workpieces and for combining them at variousstations and stages of a production line.

In accordance with the transfer and registration methods and apparatusand the combining methods and apparatus embodying the present inventionthe fabric workpieces are moved over a supporting surface upon whichthey can be slid, and one or more of their edges are impelled outwardlyagainst one or more stop surfaces in known positions to register theworkpieces with respect to the positions of the stop surfaces. Duringtransfer of the workpieces following registration and during combiningtheir known orientation and relationship to other workpieces isadvantageously maintained.

As used herein the term workpiece is intended to include individualpieces as well as sub-assemblies or semifinished goods including two ormore pieces or components secured together by suitable fastening, suchas by sewing. The term fabric is intended to include woven goods andalso non-woven or felted or perforate goods having a fabric-like texturesuitable for use in clothing, headgear and similar uses, regardless ofwhether the material of the goods is in one layer or multiple layers andregardless of whether the goods are natural, synthetic, or blended.

The term registration or registering is intended to mean the bringing ofa fabric workpiece into a very accurately known position and orientationwith respect to one or more reference elements whose position andorientation in the equipment is precisely known. These referenceelements are specifically called stop surfaces in the illustrativeexamples of this invention. When two workpieces have each beenregistered at different regions in the system, then, since the positionand orientation of each one is now known, the position and orientationof each one with respect to the other is also known. This permits themto be brought together in proper relationship for assembly andfastening, as by sewing.

The term transfer or transferring is intended to mean the movement of afabric workpiece from one region to a second region, while maintainingthe workpiece in known relationship during this movement. In theillustrative examples shown herein the transfer is accomplished bybringing friction clamp feet elements down onto the workpiece from aboveand then sliding the workpiece along a smooth supporting surface from afirst region to a second region and thereafter raising the clampelements away from the workpiece. By registering the workpiece at thefirst region and then transferring it to the second region, its exactposition and orientation at this second region are now known so thatwork can be automatically performed on it, for example fastening as bysewing.

The term combining is intended to mean the bringing together that is,the assembly, of two or more previously registered workpieces so thattheir positions and orientations remain known. Thus, the combinedregistered workpieces are ready for work automatically to be performedon them, for example, they are ready to be suitably fastened together,as by sewing them, cementing them, or fusing them together at one ormore points.

In the specification and in the accompanying drawings are described andshown fully automatic transfer and registration methods and apparatusand combining methods and apparatus illustratively embodying the presentinvention, but it is to be understood that these examples are notintended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention. Theseillustrations are given so as to disclose the invention fully andclearly to these skilled in the art and so that the reader willappreciate how this invention can be adapted and modified in variousforms, each as may be best suited for the conditions of a particularproduction line.

The various objects, aspects and advantages of the present inventionwill be more fully understood from a consideration of the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating transfer and registrationmethods and apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1and showing parts of the transfer arm apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the registration apparatus asseen in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4 showingbeating apparatus for impelling an edge portion of a fabric workpiece;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of beating apparatus and drive mechanism therefor;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the beating process impellingtwo edge portions of a fabric workpiece alternately in two differentdirections toward respective stop surfaces;

FIGS. 8 and 9 show successive operating steps of the registration;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a transfer and registration system forcombining or assembling two workpieces in a known relationship;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a portion of FIG. 10 as seen along theline 1111;

FIGS. 12-14 illustrate the registering of fabric workpieces of variousconfigurations;

FIGS. 1517 are perspective views showing a sequence of operatingpositions of modified apparatus for combining a plurality of workpiecesin known relationship;

FIGS. 18 and 19 show modified registration apparatus; and

FIG. 20 is a schematic electrical diagram of an electrical controlsystem.

As shown in FIG. 1 the various fabric workpieces W are moved generallyin a direction from left to right in the drawing over a low-frictionsupporting surface 12 provided by a large table 14 having a smooth uppersurface, for example of polished metal, slippery plastic, or the like.Motion of a pair of transfer arms 16 and 18 toward the left is describedas backward motion and to ward the right as forward.

I11 operation a new fabric workpiece W-l as indicated in dash and dotoutline is delivered to a receiving region 20 which is located near theleft or input end of the table 14. Then the workpiece W-l is transferredto an intermediate region generally indicated at 22 in which it isbrought into registration with respect to reference elements, as will beexplained in detail further below. This registered workpiece isindicated by W-2, and it is then transferred to a region for work to beperformed on it, for example, the workpiece is transferred from theregistration region 22 to a combining region 24, while its preciselyregistered relationship is preserved.

At the combining area 24 the registered workpiece W-2 is combined withanother registered workpiece W-4 (FIGS. 10 and 11) from another line. Asan example, the registered piece W2 may be a rear leg panel of a pair oftrousers, and the other workpiece W-4 which is combined therewith may bea panel to form a hip picket. By virtue of the fact that both workpieceshave been precisely registered with respect to each other before theyare combined, the pocket panel is correctly located on the leg panel inreadiness to be automatically secured thereto subsequently, as bystitching.

The new fabric workpiece W-1 may be delivered manually or automaticallyto the receiving area 20. The location of the new workpieces W1 when itis delivered to the receiving area 20, is not critical, for example, itmay be askew or offset, or both, from a position which would correspondwith a registered relationship, because it will subsequently be broughtinto registered relationship when it is in the registration area 22, asexplained above.

In order to transfer the pieces W from one area to the next on the worksurface 12, the transfer arms 16 and 18 are employed. These transferarms are both guided by a pair of parallel guide rail rods 26 and 27extending along one side of the line below the level of the workpiecesupporting surface 12. A bracket member 28 is connected to the end ofeach transfer arm 16 and 18, and each bracket member 28 is carried by apair of sleeve bearings 30 which are slidable along the respective rodrails 26 and 27. The two transfer arms are tied together so that theymove in unison by means of a connecting link bar 32 (FIG. 2).

For driving the transfer arms, as is shown most clearly in FIG. 2, thereis a transfer drive motor 34 connected to a speed-reducing gearmechanism 35 for driving a sprocket chain 36. The chain 36 in turndrives a sprocket 37 which engages a transfer traveller chain 38 passingin a generally rectangular path around three idler sprockets 39. Afourth idler sprocket 40 is movably mounted for adjusting the tension inthe transfer traveller chain 38. As the traveller chain 38 moves alongits rectangular path, it serves to move the transfer arms 16 and 18forward and backward with a pause at each end of their strokes.

A slide block 42 is slidingly mounted on a pair of rods 43 which arerigidly connected to one of the arm brackets 28. A connecting pin 44secures this block to one of the links of the traveller chain 38. Thus,the slide block 42 is forced to move with the chain 38. As the block 42moves along the upper and lower parts of the generally rectangular pathof chain 38, it causes the transfer arms to move backwardly andforwardly, respectively. As the block 42 moves up and down along thevertical end parts of the path of chain 38, it slides along the rods 43while both transfer arms 16 and 18 are dwelling at the respective endsof their stroke. By this arrangement a smooth sinusoidal accelerationand deceleration is produced at each end of each stroke of the transferarms as the pin 44 goes around the sprocket.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the transfer arms 16 and 18 are shown in their restposition at the end of a transfer cycle. The initial motion of both armsis backward. The first arm 16 is moved by the chain 38 over to a firstposition above the receiving area and at the same time the second arm 18is moved over to a position above the registration area 22.

While the transfer arms are briefly dwelling in these respectivepositions, a plurality of clamping feet elements, as shown in detail inFIG. 3, are plunged down onto the respective workpieces W-l and W-2.FIG. 3 illustrates one of the clamping feet and its operating means 50on the arm 16. It will be understood that the structure of the othertransfer arm and of other clamping feet on both arms is the same. Thearm 16 includes a horizontal chassis member 52 carrying a double-actingpneumatic cylinder 53 mounted on a post 54. A piston rod 55 is connectedto one end of a crank lever 56 which is pivoted on a post '57, and theupper end of this crank lever has a slot 58 engaging a pin 59 on aplunger 60. At the lower end of this plunger is a clamp foot 61comprising a disc 62 covered by a resilient pad 63 of material providinga high frictional engagement with the workpieces being engaged, forexample a thin sponge rubber pad. Air is suitably supplied to thecylinder 53 so that the piston rod 55 extends to swing the crank 56,plunging the clamp foot 61 down into firm frictional engagement with thepiece W-1. The slot 58 provides clearance to accommodate the arcuatemovement of the crank 56 relative to the reciprocating movement of theplunger shaft 60.

It is to be noted that the transfer arm moves over the workpiece andcomes to a dead stop. Then, the friction clamp elements 61 come downperpendicular to the surface 12 into contact with the workpiece. Afterthe friction clamp elements 61 are firmly pressing down into theworkpiece, then and only then, does the transfer arm again begin moving.

The reason for explaining this explicitly is that if the downward motionof the friction clamp elements 61 should occur while the transfer armsare still in motion,

the elements 61 would be descending along diagonal paths at the momentof contact with the workpiece. This diagonal downward movement couldde-register the workpieces. The same is true when the friction clampfeet 61 are being lifted off of the workpiece after the transfer hasoccurred. Thus, the transfer arms are dead stopped and the clamp feet 61are raised perpendicularly from the supporting surface 12.

The other clamp feet mechanisms 50 are similarly actuated so that therespective workpieces W-l and W2 are frictionally clamped to assure thatthese workpieces will be transferred with a movement exactlycorresponding with the motion of the respective transfer arms 16 and 18.

There is a great differential in the coeflicient of friction existingbetween the workpiece and supporting surface 12 (small coefficient) andthat existing between workpiece and the friction clamp means 61 (largecoefiicient). Thus, the workpieces slide readily over the surface 12 butthey are not permitted to slip with respect to the friction clamp means61.

It is an advantage of this system that each transfer arm 16 and 18 maycarry a relatively large number of the friction clamp mechanisms 50, butfor handling any particular shape and size of workpiece only a few ofthem may be used, the others remaining in their upper inactivepositions. This provides a great flexibility in application, if desired,so that the system can be set up for handling any one of a wide varietyof shapes and sizes of workpieces. It will be appreciated that this canbe accomplished conveniently by providing individual shut-off valves inthe air lines to the various clamp feet mechanisms 30. Those which areto be inactive during a particular production run are raised and theirair lines are then shut off.

As described above, the friction clamp means 61 of the first transferarm 16 have been firmly engaged down upon the workpiece W-l at thereceiving area 20 while the friction means 61 of the second arm 18 havesimilarly been clamped upon registered workpieces W-2 at theregistration area 22. This operation of the friction clamping means isproduced by a control switch 64 (FIG. 2) which senses the transfer armbracket 28 at the input end of its stroke and the switch 64 is closed soas to energize a solenoid valve 65 (FIG. 12) which then opens to feedair to operate the cylinders 53 of respective clamp mechanisms 50.

It is to be noted that the friction clamp means 61 engage each workpiecenear its leading edge with respect to the proposed direction oftransfer. This prevents aerodynamic lifting of the leading edge and soprevents this edge from being flipped up and back by action of the air.When transferring a workpiece which includes a piece of fabric on top ofanother, then at least one of the friction clamp means 61 is arranged tocome down onto the upper piece to hold it in place, i.e. to preventaerodynamic lift during transfer.

Soon after the clamp feet of both transfer arms 16 and 18 have firmlyengaged the workpieces W-1 and W-2 at the respective areas 20 and 22,the chain pin 44 passes in a curve around the sprocket 39 so as toproduce a smooth forward acceleration of both transfer arms. Thisforward motion of the transfer arms continues and moves the workpiecesW-1 and W-2 forward. They slide upon the smooth surface 12 while beingheld in non-slip relationship by the firm frictional engagement of themultiple clamp feet 61. At the forward end of their strokes the arm 18is positioned directly over the combining area 24 while the arm 16 ispositioned directly over the registration area 22. The arms dwell inthese positions, and a control switch 66 is closed so as to energizeanother solenoid valve 67 (FIG. 12) which supplies air to thedouble-acting cylinders 53 so as to retract the clamp feet 61 up offfrom the workpieces W-l and W-2.

Shortly after the clamp feet have been raised away from the workpieces,the chain 38 returns the arms 16 and 18 to their mid-stroke positions asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is the end-of-cycle or rest position. Whenthe transfer arms have reached this rest position, an endof-cyclesensing switch 68 is closed by a cam member 69 on the arm bracket 28.This switch 68 causes the opening of a clutch in the chain drivemechanism 35 and actuates an electromagnetic brake, and switch 68 alsoinitiates operation of the registration process. There is sufficientcoasting movement of the transfer arms that the cam 69 just passes bythe switch 68 and allows it to re-open before the arms come to rest.When the transfer arms have reached their rest position, a cam 71 holdsclosed a switch 72. This switch 72 causes a registration frame (FIGS. 1,2 and 4) to be lowered.

As shown in FIG. 12, the brief closure of the end-oftransfer-cycleswitch 68, energizes a relay coil B and also energizes a time-delayrelay coil TDA. The purpose of the time delay is to provide a brief timeinterval after the transfer arms 16 and 18 have reached their restpositions during which the closure of the switch 72 can produce 7lowering of the registration frame 80, as will be explained in detaillater on in connection with FIG. 12.

The raising and lowering of the registration frame 80 is produced bysuitable lift means 81, for example, an arm 82 (FIG. 2) which is pivotedat 83 to an overhead frame 84 secured to the main support frame 85 forthe table 14. An elevator rod 86 is moved by an air cylinder 87 and thisrod engages a pivot 88 which is secured to the arm 82. The outer end ofthe arm is connected by a pin 89 to an inner slidable lift column 90.Surrounding this column 90 is a concentric column 91 which slides withina sleeve 92 attached to the frame 84.

As shown in FIG. 4, the outer slide column 91 is attached at its lowerend to registration stop means 92 including a horizontal platform 93having several depending support legs 94 carrying one or more stoptemplates 96.

These support posts 94 are adjustable in length by means of screws 97and lock nuts 98, and they serve to position the stop templates 96 downflat upon the surface 12 when the registration frame 80 is lowered. Theinner edge of the template or templates 96 are contoured as desired toprovide stop surfaces 99 for providing precisely positioned surfacesagainst which to register one or more edges of a workpiece as will beexplained. An anti-buckling cover plate 100 overlies the stop surfaces99 and projects inwardly toward the center region of the registrationframe 80. This plate 100 prevents the fabric workpiece from buckling upafter its edge has been impelled against the stop surface 99.

When the template means 96 comes down against the table surface 12, thestop means 92 is brought to rest, but the inner column 90 continues downfurther so that beater apparatus, generally indicated at 101, is broughtdown into operative position. This beater apparatus 101 is intended toapply brief gentle impulses to the workpiece for registering it andincludes a plurality of rotating heaters 102 which come down intocontact with the workpiece in the area 22 on the table surface 12. Thesebeaters were previously set in rotation, and they include a plurality ofresilient and laterally defiectable beating fingers 103. Theanti-buckling plate 100 has clearance slots 104 formed therein inalignment with the whirling beater fingers and through which thesebeating fingers pass into contact with the upper surface of theworkpiece.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, these beating fingers apply brief forceimpulses to the workpiece thereunder for sliding the workpieceintermittently toward the stop surfaces 99 until its edge 106 comes intocontact with this stop surface. These impelling force impulses areapplied to the margin region 107 of the workpiece near its edge 106, sothat the main body of the workpiece is under traction as its marginregion is being impelled toward the stop surfaces 99.

In order to provide registration of the workpiece so that its positionand orientation are accurately known, i.e. so that its location on thesurface 12 with respect to cordinates (X, Y) and its angular positionare accurately known two reference elements are employed which areeffectively set at an angle one to the other, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.These two reference elements are the stop surfaces 99a and 99b. Also, aplurality of sets of beaters 105-1, 105-2, 105-3, and 1054 are employedwith their axes of rotation at an angle, which is here shown as beingthe same angle as between the reference elements, namely, a right angle.The number of sets of beaters 105 and their arrangement may be variedwith the size and weight of the workpiece which is intended to beregistered. The various beating rotors 102a and 102b impel the workpiecetoward corresponding stop surfaces 99a and 99b each of which iscontoured to mate with the corresponding contours of the edges of theworkpiece. The repective fingers 103 of the sets of beaters 102a and10219 operate out of phase as indicated in FIG. 7, which is 90 out ofphase in this embodiment. Thus, an impulse 110 is exerted on margin 107afor urging the edge 106a toward the stop 99a. The next subsequentimpulse 111 is applied to margin 107 b for moving the edge 10Gb towardthe stop 99b. Then the succeeding impulse is applied again to the margin107a, and so forth. The result is that brief force impulses 110 and 111are applied alternatively to the two angularly positioned margins 10 7aand 1071) for providing a cornering action. That is, the net result ofthe alternately acting impulses 110 and 111, which are at an angularrelationship, is to drive the corner or vertex 112 of the fabric intothe corresponding corner or vertex space 114 defined by the angularlypositioned stop surfaces 99a and 9%. Thus, an X, Y and 6 registrationare all produced.

The impulses 110 and 111 are directed toward the adjacent stop surfaces99a and 99b and their alternate occurence moves the fabric workpieces bysmall, rapidly occurring, sliding movement toward these respectivesurfaces 99a and 99b so that its edges 106a and 106b are moved flushagainst the corresponding stop sufaces 99a and 99b.

The contour of these stop surfaces 99a and 99b matches the contour ofthe edges 106a and 106b of the workpiece to be registered. Consequently,when the respective edges are flush against the respective stopsurfaces, a precise registration has been produced.

The beater rotors 102 are formed of a stiff resilient and durablematerial which will not mar or scuff the fabric. For example, the rotorsas shown are cut out of a sheet of stiff flexible polyurethane which isone eighth of an inch thick. The individual fingers 103 are inclinedbackwardly to the direction of rotation, and in this example the fingersin each beater rotor are in pairs diametrically opposed with slots 108therebetween. Each pair of fingers 103 come into contact with the fabricso closely together in time that they together may be considered toexert one impulse. Thus each rotor 102 effectively produces two impulsesper revolution.

The exact shape or number of fingers 103 in each rotating beater is notcritical. In fact any one, two, or three fingers may be cut off from anyrotor 102 and the registration process is still successfully performed.The advantage of having more than one finger on each beater is that theimpulses occur more frequently so that the registration is produced morerapidly, but the speed of registration is not always linear with respectto the rate of pulsing.

We have found that the characteristics of various types of fabric anddifferent sizes and weights of workpieces are so different that the userof this method and apparatus should try several different rotor speedsand then use that which produces registration most quickly. This differswith the actual stiffness, thickness and number of layers of fabric ineach workpiece as can readily be determined by following our teachingherein and trying different speeds such as 600 r.p.m., 500 r.p.m., 400r.p.m., 300 r.p.m., 200 r.p.m. and r.p.m., when using beaters having theactual size and characteristics as described and shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,namely two and one-eighth inches in diameter.

It is important to note that by alternately occurring impulses 110 and111 toward the stop surfaces 99a and 99b rotational mode of orientation(0) is provided as well as linear movement (X and Y). FIGS. 12, 13 and14 are illustrations in which various shapes of workpieces W-1 in theirinitial locations (shown dotted) are askew as well as being out ofposition. In being impelled into the registered position as shown asW-2, each workpiece becomes turned by an angle (0) as well as beingmoved by distances (X) and (Y). When in the registered position, theedges 106a and 10Gb mate with the corresponding stop surface 99a and 9%.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 also show that as used herein the expression twoangularly positioned edges is intended to include two edges having anacute, right, obtuse or reentrant angle therebetween. Also, the termedges includes straight, curved, or irregularly shaped edges. There maybe a well defined corner 112 between these two edges as shown in FIGS.12 and 13 or the corner may be so very rounded as to be only a gentlechange in direction The anti-buckling plate 100 is spaced above thesurface 12 only slightly more than the thickness of the workpiece beingregistered, as is shown in FIG. 4. To damp out the movement of theworkpiece, a plurality of small depending hair springs 116 may be used,extending down below the lower surface of the plate 100 with their endscanted toward the respective stop surfaces 99. These springs 116 arehelpful in some, but not most cases to produce a more preciseregistration between the edges of the workpiece and the stop surfaces.The ends of these springs engage the upper surface of the fabric anddamp out movement of the workpiece to prevent the edges of the workpiecefrom vibrating away from the respective stops after it has becomeregistered against them.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the various sets of heaters 105 are rotatedby a small electric motor 119 mounted on a registration head chassis 120which is secured to the inner column 90. This motor 119 drives asmall-link lightweight sprocket chain 121 turning a shaft 122 and alsodrives a sprocket chain 123 which turns a shaft 124. The reason forusing positive drive means, for example such as these chains andsprockets is to assure that the out-of-phase time relationship existswhich are on one axis and the other beater sets 105-1 and 105-2 whichare on one axis and the other beater sets 105-3 and 105-4 which are onanother axis perpendicular thereto. In this example these respectivebeater sets are operating 90 out-of-phase. The shaft 122 drives thebeater set 105-4 by means of mitre gears 126 and drives the beater set105-3 at the same speed in the same direction by mitre gears 127.

Each set 105 of beaters can be removed and replaced quickly andconveniently as shown in FIG. 5. The various rotors 102 are secured inspaced relationship to a common shaft 128 having a tongue 129 at one endand a projecting lug 130 at the other. The tongue is received in aslotted socket in a drive shaft 131 held by hearing means 132, while thelug 130 is inserted into a hole in a self aligning bearing 133. Acompression spring 134 surrounds the shaft 128 near the lug and servesto hold the tongue 129 in its socket. To remove a set 105 forreplacement, the spring 134, is compressed by sliding the lug 130farther into its bearing so that the tongue 129 can be disengaged andremoved from its socket, then the lug 130 is removed from the bearing133.

All of the bearings 132 and 133 for the respective beater sets and forthe shaft 131, 122 and associated bevel gears are mounted upon theregistration head chassis 120 which is secured to the lower end of theslidable inner column 90. Thus, as described above, they are loweredfarther to bring the beaters into engagement with the workpiece to beregistered after the stops 96 have all been placed at their properlocations.

After an appropriate length of time has passed to allow the registrationoperation to be performed, the lift means 81 (FIGS. 1 and 2) gentlyraises the registration head chassis 120, while the stops 96 remain attheir locations on the table surface 12. The resulting gentle upwardmovement of the rotating heaters 102 progressively reduces the magnitudeof the beating impulses 110 and 111 which are being applied to theworkpiece until these impulses have been diminished to zero as thefingers 103 are lifted clear away fromcontact with the fabric. Thisprogressive diminuation of the beating impulses assures that the edgeregistration is maintained and also assures that the registration of thecorner (vertex) 112 is maintained.

The inner column 90 continues its upward travel until a resilient bumper140 (FIG. 4) supported on a collar 142 on the column 90 comes up againstthe platform 93 and this bumper then raises the whole stop apparatus 92.Accordingly, beater apparatus 101 and stop apparatus 92 are now raisedtogether to their inactive upper posi tion. In summary, it is noted thatthe stops 96 are positioned before the heaters are brought fully intotheir operative positions, and the stops remain positioned until afterthe beating impulses have discontinued. This prevents the workpiece frombeing impelled beneath any stop before the stop is ready and preventsthe workpiece from being dislodged from its registered position whilethe beating impulses are tapering down to zero.

As a result of the registration operation this newly registeredworkpiece W2 is now in exactly the same position as was the previouslyregistered workpiece W-2 and so it is now in readiness for the nexttransfer operation. After the registration frame 80, including the stopapparatus 92 and the beater apparatus 101, has reached its upperinactive position, and after a combining operation has occurred, as willbe described, then the transfer arms 16 and 18 are moved toward the leftto engage the new workpiece W-l at the receiving area 20 and also totransfer this registered piece W-2 over to the combining location 24, aspreviously described.

It is to be noted that FIG. 1 shows a second registration frame A whichis spaced a small distance away from the frame 80 and is generally inlateral alignment with the frame 80. This frame 80A is used inconjunction with the frame 80 when longer workpieces such as trouser legpanels are being handled. When smaller workpieces are being handled, theframe 80A is allowed to remain in its upper or rest position. It hassuitable lift means, as will be understood. The registration frame 80Ais identical with the frame 80 except that it only includes beatersturning about one axis and stop means associated therewith. That is, theregistration unit 80A is not required to produce corner registration,because one corner or vertex of the long workpiece is being registeredby the companion unit 80. Accordingly, this frame 80A registers an edgeportion 106a of the workpiece remote from the corner 112 and adjacentedge portions 106 and 106a.

In summary, when two angularly positioned edges are registered, then theposition of a workpiece of known configuration is fully and accuratelyknown, this precise registration having been produced entirelyautomatically.

In the foregoing process in order to produce registration against stopsurfaces 99a and 99b which are at an angle one to the other, two sets ofbeaters 102a and 102]) are used revolving about axes which are at anangle one to the other generally corresponding with the angle of thesestop surfaces. This provides a cornering action as described above indetail.

There is an alternate process which may occasionally be utilized forproducing a cornering action when handling small workpieces. In thisalternate process only one set of beaters 102 is utilized rotating aboutan axis which is generally perpendicular to the bisector of the vertexangle 114 between the two stop surfaces 99a and 9%. In other words thebeating rotors 102 are revolving in planes parallel to this bisector sothat the beating impulses are applied to the workpiece in a directionparallel to the bisector and directed into the corner or vertex 114between the stop surfaces. The resultant beating impulses urge thefabric corner 112 into the stop corner 114. Any requisite lateralmovement of the workpiece with respect to the plane of revolution of thebeating fingers is accommodated by the lateral compliance of theindividual fingers 103 which enables them to deflect laterally during abeating stroke. Thus the workpiece becomes precisely registered into thecorner 114.

FIG. 10 shows a plan view of a portion of an automatic production linein which a plurality of previously registered workpieces W-2 and W-4 arecombined. As explained previously, the workpiece W-1 on the table 14 istransferred in the direction of the arrows from the receiving area,generally outlined at 20, over to the registra- 1 1 tion area 22 atwhich it is brought into registration. This registered workpiece isindicated by the reference number W-2; and it is transferred over to thearea 24 while its registered relationship is retained.

Similarly, an unregistered workpiece W3 is received on a table 14A inthe receiving area 20A. The worktable 14A has its long axis convergingtoward the combining area 24 on the table 14. This unregisteredworkpiece W3 is transferred by a similar operation over to aregistration area 22A in which it is registered, as indicated at W4. Theregistered relationship of the workpiece W4 is preserved while it istransferred over to an area 24A which is conveniently near the area 24.

It will be understood that the transfer and registration on thecompanion table 14A proceeds at the same pace in synchronism with thesesteps on the table 14. Thus, when the registered workpiece W2 arrives atthe combining area 24, the other workpiece W4 arrives at the adjacentarea 24A. This workpiece 24A is then lifted up automatically by asuction head 149 (FIG. 11) and placed down upon the registeredrelationship. As shown in FIG. 11, the suction head 149 is mounted on avertical plunger mechanism 150 which is similar to the operatingmechanisms 50 for the friction feet 61. The plunger mechanism 150 iscarried by a horizontal traveller 151 moved by a piston rod 152 and acylinder 153. The suction head 149 has a screen extending horizontallyacross its lower surface and the suction holds the workpiece W4 upagainst this screen. Thus, this head 149 lifts the workpiece W4 over soas to deposit it as indicated by the dotted lines W4 on the workpieceW-2.

After these two workpieces have been accurately combined, as described,then they are automatically transferred over onto a companion table 154which comprises the fastening station. In this fastening station theworkpiece W-4, for example a hip pocket patch, is fastened to theworkpiece W2, for example a trouser leg panel. This fastening stationmay utilize any suitable fastening means. For example the two workpiecesmay be sewn together by a sewing machine or may be suitably fusedtogether. This fastening station may advantageously utilize automaticstitching equipment.

In FIGS. 15-17 are illustrated a further embodiment of method andapparatus for combining a plurality of workpieces in known relationship.This apparatus shown in FIGS. 15-17 is a modification of the apparatusshown in FIGS. and 11. As explained previously, the workpiece W2 on thetable 14 has been registered and is in its registered relationship inthe area 24. Also, the workpiece W4 is in a registered relationship inthe area 24A on movable platform means 160 which normally is positionedto form an end portion of the table 14A. Only the adjacent parts of thetables 14 and 14A are shown, and the long axis of the table 14A extendstoward the combining area 24 of the table '14, similar to thearrangement in FIG. 10.

As previously described in connection with FIGS. 10 and 11, the transferand registration of the workpiece W-4 has occurred in step with theworkpiece W2 so that the workpiece W4 is now ready to be combined withthe workpiece W2. This combining process is carried out by utilizing thedifferential in the friction between the workpiece W-4 and itssupporting surface 160 and the friction between the workpiece andfriction clamp means 164, as will be explained.

The end platform 160 of the table 14A is movable and has a smoothsurface of low coefiicient of friction, for example of polished metal,slippery plastic, and the like. This movable platform means 160 isnormally contiguous with the surface of the table 14A and is slightlylower than the surface of the table 14A so that the workpiece W4 can betransferred from the area 22A over to the area 24A without becomingsnagged on the joint 162.

After the workpiece W4 has been transferred onto the movable platformmeans 160*, friction clamp means 164 are actuated for firmly holding theworkpiece W4 in its desired position. The friction clamp means 164 aresimilar to the clamp mechanisms 50 (FIGS. 1, 2. and 3) and include afriction clamp foot member 161 which is similar to the friction clampfoot 61 (FIG. 3), except that the friction clamp 161 is suflicientlylarge to cover the entire workpiece W4. This friction clamp 161 has alower surface with a high coefficient of friction, for example, asprovided by a sponge rubber pad 63. This friction clamp 161 can beraised and lowered by a vertical plunger mechanism 150 carried by ahorizontal traveller carriage 151 moved by a piston rod 152 and acylinder 153, all similar to those corresponding elements shown in FIG.11.

In order to synchronize the horizontal movement of the friction clamp161 with the movement of the platform 160, there is a locking pin 168carried by the carriage 151 which is inserted into a hole 170 in theplatform 160. This locking pin 168 is operated by a double-actingcylinder 172 which is mounted on the traveller carriage 151.

While the workpiece W-4 is being clamped in place on the movableplatform 160, a double-acting cylinder 174 is actuated for moving theplatform 160 over to its alternative position (as shown in FIG. 16)where it is located directl over the workpiece W2. This cylinder 174 islocated beneath the table 14A and has a piston rod 176 connected to apair of slide rods 178 which are supported by sleeve bearings 180. Theseslide rods 178 are extended out as shown in FIG. 16 by movement of thepiston rod 176. The friction clamp foot 161 moves in synchronism withthe platform 160 so that this clamp 161 remains firmly pressing downagainst the workpiece W4. Now that the workpiece W4 is located directlyover the de sired position on the workpiece W4, the locking pin 168 isretracted from the hole 17.

For combining the workpiece W-4 with W2, the platform 160 is suddenlyretracted as shown in FIG. 17. The differential in friction permits theplatform 160 to slide out from beneath the workpiece W4 while W4 remainsfrictionally held by the clamp 161. This friction clamp foot 161 is heldstationary by the cylinder 153 as the platform 160* is abruptlywithdrawn.

As soon as the platform 160 has been withdrawn completely from beneaththe workpiece W4, the downward pressure of the friction clamp 161 pushesthis workpiece W4 vertically down onto the desired location on theworkpiece W-2. The clamp foot 161 is elevated by the mechanism 150,leaving the two workpieces combined in the desired accurate relationshipfor further operations to be performed on them, for example such asfastening them together by stitching, fusing, cementing and the like.

As shown in FIG. 17, the platform 160 has now been completely retractedinto its initial position where it forms an extension of the table 14A.Also, now that the clamp 161 has been elevated, the traveller carriage-151 is ready to be moved over above the next workpiece W-4 as initiallyshown in FIG. 15 to begin the next combining sequence of steps.

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate a modified registration apparatus forperforming a registration process similar to that illustrated in FIGS.4-9 and 12-14. In the registration area 22 of the table 14, there are aplurality of elongated clearance apertures 104 each of which is alignedwith a beating rotor 102 positioned beneath the table '14.

After the unregistered workpiece has been transferred into theregistration area 22, stop template means 96 have been lowered intoplace on the table 14, then a plurality of beating rotors 102 are raisedas shown in FIG. 19 so that they now protrude through the slots 104 toengage the lower surface of the workpiece W-l or W3 to be registered.The bearing supports 132 and 133 for the sets of heaters 102 are mountedon movable chassis means connected to rods 90 operated by cylinder means184 for raising and lowering the beaters.

While the workpiece is being registered against the stop surfaces 99aand 99b by the impulses from the heaters, an anti-buckling pressure isapplied by means of air jets 186 issuing from orifices 188 in compressedair manifold means 190. These jets 186 are directed downwardly andoutwardly at an angle toward the respective stop surfaces 99a and 99band these jets impinge on the margins of the workpiece to aid inimpelling the workpiece toward these stop surfaces. The downward forceof these jets on the workpiece increases the frictional engagementbetween the impelling fingers 103 and the lower surface of the workpieceW-l as it is being registered.

After the registration has been completed, the chassis means 120 islowered to remove the heaters 102. To provide clearance for movement ofthe transfer arms 16 and 18 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) the registration frame 80is raised up away from the table 14. For additional clearance, themanifold means 190 may also be raised by the lift means 81 as indicatedby the arrows, the compressed air being supplied through a flexible hoseto permit the movement. After the registration has been completed, thejets 186 are normally shut off by operating a solenoid valve in the airsupply line, before the stop means 96 are raised, The purpose ofshutting off these jets is to prevent dislodging the workpiece from itsregistered position. In applications for automatically handlingrelatively stiff, heavy fabric, then the jets 186 may continuously issuefrom the orifices 188.

In FIG. 20 is shown a schematic circuit digram of the electrical controlsystem as included in the illustrative apparatus being described. Itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that various controlarrangements can be utilized to produce the desired sequence of steps asdisclosed herein. In this circuit diagram the respective mechanicallyactivated control switches such as 64, 66, 68, etc., sometimes calledlimit switches, are schematically represented by contact arms having anassociated lever symbol representative of an actuator for sensing thefact that a particular mechanical component has reached the desiredlimit or position of its travel.

This control system includes certain relays for producing variousiterrelated actions and sequential operations as explained below. Eachof these relays includes a magnet winding and one or more pairs ofswitch contacts which are opened or closed when the relay winding isenergized. The magnet winding of each relay is indicated by a circle,for example, such as the winding A of the clutch and brake relay. Thenumber 3 which appears within the circle A shows the number of pairs ofswitch contacts that are operated upon energization of the relay windingA, and so forth.

A normally-open pair of contacts, that is, a pair of contacts whichremain open when the winding is not energized, are shown by two parallelvertical lines. A normallyclosed pair of relay contacts are indicated bya diagonal line which crosses the parallel vertical lines.

Also shown are two time-delay relays TDA and TDB for providing anappropriate time-delay so as to assure that a certain operation orsequence has occurred completely before the next step in the process.

The power means for producing movement of certain mechanical parts ofthe apparatus include fluid-operated cylinders, shown as air cylinders.The air flow to respective ones of these cylinders is controlled by oneor more solenoid air valves, and the solenoid windings of these airvalves are shown in FIG. 20.

The electrical power is supplied from a conventional alternating currentsource such as connections 200 and 201 for supplying AC. of 60 cycles at115 volts. A fuse 202 is included adjacent to the terminal of the hotsupply line 203, while the other line 204 is at ground potential.

In operation a push-button switch 206 is closed to start a transfercycle. A pair of switches 207 and 208 are closed when the registrationframes 80 and 80A (FIGS. 1, 2, 4-, 19) are fully raised. Therefore,these switches 207 and 208 act as a safety interlock for preventingmotion of the transfer arms 16 and 18 to avoid possible collision withthe registration frames or 80A if the frame is not up.

The relay winding A is included in the clutch and brake relay, and whenwinding A is energized, it serves to release a brake and engage aclutch. It is assumed that the operator has closed a manual switch 210so that the transfer motor 34 is running.

The relay winding A holds itself energized through its self-holdingcontacts A-1 which have now become closed. The opening of relay contactsA-3 serves to deenergize a magnet winding 214 of the brake, while theclosure of contacts A2 energizes the magnet winding 216 of the clutch,causing the transfer arms 16 and 18 to be moved by the motor 34 asdescribed.

When the transfer arms have moved backward to the limit of their travel,the switch 64 is closed as described above in connection with FIGS. 1and 2, and this energizes the solenoid valve winding 65 so as to actuatethe friction clamp feet mechanisms 50 to their down positions. After thetransfer arms 16 and 1-8 have moved forward to their release position,the limit switch 66 is closed for energizing the solenoid valve winding67 to raise the friction clamp feet 61. Then the transfer arms returntoward their rest positions.

Just before the rest position is reached the switch 68 is momentarilypushed closed. This momentary closure starts a sequence of eventsresulting in the stopping of the transfer arms and the commencement ofregistration. The switch 68 energizes relay coil B and time delay relaycoil TDA. The contacts Bl are opened, which deenergizes the clutch andbrake relay coil A so that the clutch is disengaged and the brake isapplied.

The contacts B2 serve to hold the relay coil B energized until the delayperiod of the relay TDA has passed. This occurs a short period of timeafter the transfer arms 16 and 18 have reached their rest positions,Also, because the switch 72 is held closed when the transfer arms are intheir rest position, the contacts B-3 serve to energize a solenoid valvewinding 214 for supplying air to the cylinder 87 (FIG. 2) to lower theregistration frame 80, and also 80A, if desired. The switch 72 serves asa safety interlock, preventing the registration frames from beinglowered unless the transfer arms are in their rest positions, where theyare out of the paths of the registration frames.

The purpose of the time delay TDA is to deenergize the relay B after theregistration frame or frames have started moving down. As soon as therelay is dee-nergized, the contacts Bl reelose, but the relay winding Acannot become energized because the interlock switches 207 and 208 havebecome opened upon the lowering of the registration frames 80 and 80A.When the registration frame starts down, a control switch 216 becomesclosed for energizing the beater rotor driving motor 119. If desired,the beater motor remains continuously energized.

As soon as the registration frame has touched the table surface 12, acontrol switch 218 is pushed closed. Thus, a time delay relay coil TDBis energized. The delay period of this relay TDB is suificient to permitthe registration process to be carried out. At the end of the delayperiod, the contacts TDB-1 are closed, which energizes a solenoid valvewinding 220 for operating the cylinder 87 to raise the registrationframes. Thus, the registration frames return to their up positions,which closes the switches 207 and 208 to re-commence the transferoperation.

In order to assure that the combining operation has been completedbefore the transfer occurs, a control switch 222 is in series with theclutch and brake relay. This switch 222 is closed when the combininghead 149 is out of the way in an intermediate rest position. A rectifier224 is included so that the magnet windings 214 and 216 are energized byunidirectional current.

As used herein the term corner is intended to include any abrupt changein direction of the edge of a fabric workpiece, and consequently corneras used herein includes any apex, vertex and the like, regardless ofwhether the chaneg in direction at the corner is a right angle, acuteangle, or obtuse angle, for example see FIGS. 12, 13, and 14. It willalso be understood that the term corner includes reentrant corners, thatis corners wherein the change in direction is greater than 180 from oneedge to the other edge as measured in an are lying in the plane of theworkpiece, for example, as shown in FIG. 13.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the methods and apparatusof the present invention as described above are well suited to providethe advantages set forth. It will be appreciated from the foregoing thatmany possible embodiments can be made of the various features of thetransfer and registration methods and apparatus as described, and thatall matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawingsis to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense, andthat, in certain instances, some of the features of the invention can beused without a corresponding use of other features, all withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of combining two fabric workpieces in accuratepredetermined relationship comprising the steps of bringing a firstfabric workpiece into registration, bringing a second fabric workpieceinto registration, transferring the second workpiece onto a movableplatform while maintaining its registered relationship, moving theplatform to a known position over said first workpiece while maintainingthe second workpiece in registered relationship thereon, pressing downupon said second workpiece in a frictional engagement therewith which isgreater than the friction between the second workpiece and the platform,abruptly sliding said platform out from beneath the second workpiece,and pressing the second workpiece down upon the first workpiece.

2. The method of combining together two fabric workpieces in anaccurately known relationship comprising the steps of supporting a firstfabric workpiece upon a smooth surface of low friction, bringing thefirst fabric workpiece into registered relationship at a first locationon said surface, bringing the second fabric workpiece into registeredrelationship at a second location, and placing the second workpiece fromsaidsecond location into a predetermined position over said firstworkpiece, and moving the second workpiece vertically down upon thefirst fabric workpiece in a predetermined position while maintaining itsregistered relationship without dislodging the first workpiece from itsregistered relationship on said surface.

3. A system for automatically combining a plurality of fabric workpiecestogether in predetermined relationship comprising support table meanshaving smooth top surface means permitting the fabric workpieces toslide readily thereon, transfer means having elements with a highcoefiicient of friction engaging said workpieces for sliding theworkpieces over said top surface means, registration means havingelements with a high coefficient of friction applying brief forceimpulses to a plurality of fabric workpieces for registering a pluralityof the workpieces at different locations on said top surface means, andcombining means for placing one registered workpiece upon another whilemaintaining their registered relationship.

4. The method of combining together two fabric workpieces in accuratepredetermined relationship comprising the steps of bringing a firstfabric workpiece into registration at a first location, bringing asecond fabric workpiece into registration at a second location differentfrom said first location, sliding the second workpiece onto a movableplatform while maintaining its registered relationship, said movableplatform having a smooth surface for permitting said second workpiece toslide thereon, frictionally engaging the top face of said secondworkpiece for holding it firmly in registration on said platform, movingthe platform to a known position over said first workpiece whilemaintaining the second workpiece in registered relationship thereon,maintaining said frictional engagement with the top surface of saidsecond workpiece which is greater than the friction between the secondworkpiece and the platform, abruptly sliding said platform out frombeneath the second workpiece, and immediately pressing the secondworkpiece down upon the first workpiece.

5. The method of combining together two fabric workpieces in accuratelyknown relationship comprising the steps of bringing a first fabricworkpiece into a general region with its edge opposing to but spacedfrom a first registration stop surface, applying impulses to theworkpiece to move said edge against said stop surface for registeringthe workpiece in predetermined relationship, bring a second fabricworkpiece into another general region with its edge opposing to butspaced from a second registration stop surface, applying impulses to thesecond workpiece to move its said edge against said second stop surfacefor registering the second workpiece in predetermined relationship, therespective steps for the second workpiece being performed generally insynchronism with the corresponding steps for the first workpiece, movingthe second workpiece over a predetermined distance toward the firstworkpiece while maintaining its predetermined relationship and placingit adjacent to the first workpiece in predetermined relationshiptherewith, thereby combining together the two workpieces in accuratelyknown relationship.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,617,647 11/1952 Davis 270-593,193,284 7/1965 Kretz, Ir. 27058 2,520,322 8/1950 Mestre 270--5 82,839,880 6/1958 Boughton 27059 2,384,768 8/ 1945 Rau 270-58 3,071,3691/1963 Ambrogi 270=-58 813,908 2/1906 Miller 27058 ROBERT W. MICHELL,Primary Examiner

